2 Samuel 1

1 And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag,

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

2 it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn, and earth upon his head. And so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground, and did obeisance.

on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.

3 And David said to him, From where did thou come? And he said to him, I escaped out of the camp of Israel.

David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”

4 And David said to him, How did the matter go? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.

David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

5 And David said to the young man who told him, How do thou know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 And the young man who told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed close after him.

The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here I am.

When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8 And he said to me, Who are thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 And he said to me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.

He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers in me.’

10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he was fallen. And I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.

So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them, and likewise all the men who were with him.

Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.

12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 And David said to the young man who told him, From where are thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.

David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

14 And David said to him, Why were thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?

David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him so that he died.

David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.

16 And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head, for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.

David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’s anointed.’”

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son

David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son

18 (and he bade them teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

19 Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!

“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan, men who were loved and pleasant, undivided; comely in their lives, and undivided in their death; swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.

How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant thou have been to me. Thy love to me was wonderful, exceeding the love of women.

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”